Why Should I Purchase Travel Protection?

Your vacation is a precious investment of time and money. It’s important especially in today’s travel climate that you protect yourself and your investment by considering purchasing travel protection also known as travel insurance. A travel policy can provide coverage for common travel mishaps and the unexpected financial burdens you could face during your trip. Understanding potential costs and benefits can help you understand the value of the coverage. You should know what financial risks you are and are not willing to take to help you make this important decision. It’s one of those things no one wants to have to add to the budget but may regret should something arise and you need it.

Some people feel travel protection is unnecessary because they are healthy, have cleared their calendar to travel and have no plans to cancel their vacation. However, there are many other circumstances in which travel protection will protect and help you through. Unexpected and challenging circumstances can happen anywhere and anytime so it’s best to be prepared

Here are a few things trip insurance can provide coverage for:

  • Unforeseen trip emergencies

  • Delayed or lost luggage

  • Flight delays and cancellations

  • Sustaining an injury or sickness

  • Medical evacuation flights

  • Death or sickness of a close family member prior to travel or in destination

  • Getting sick before you travel

  • Non-refundable components of the trip which were canceled by a covered reason

The coverage depends on the policy you select. So, if you are looking for a specific circumstance to be covered be sure to let us know and then check the policy offered to confirm the coverage.

Most health care policies in the U.S.A do not cover you internationally. Check with your policy. Healthcare is different internationally than what we are used to in the U.S. We are very fortunate to be able to walk into an emergency room and be treated no matter what. That’s not the case in many other countries. Sometimes without cash up front, you can’t be seen.

Some credit cards offer travel insurance if purchase for travel was made on the credit card. This can be a good resource, but you need to look into and understand the coverage. You may need to add a supplement for situations not covered through the credit card protection.

As travel professionals, we are a tight community and share experiences so we can grow and learn to better serve our clients. I never want my clients to be one of those stories I read about that turns out more unfortunate due to no protection.

Travel advisors are not licensed insurance agents and are legally restricted from answering specific policy questions. We can guide you to a product(s) that fit your travel needs. You should review the policy coverage and decide what’s best for you. If there are questions about policy coverage which we can’t answer, we’ll guide you to a source that can.

Passports & Real ID

Helpful Travel Websites

>TSA PreCheck<

>S.T.E.P.< - Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

>Global Entry<

What is global entry?

Global Entry, created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is a program that allows expedited entry into the U.S. for pre-approved, low risk travelers.

Approved members enter the U.S. through kiosks at select airports.

What is the application process?

Regardless of age, you must create a Trusted Traveler Programs account.

To complete your application, a $100 non-renfundable fee is required.

Once complete, Customs and Border Protection will conduct a review. If conditionally approved, TTP will instruct you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Every applicant has to schedule a separate interview.

Is global entry worth it?

Consider global entry for international travel. It lasts 5 years, but allows quick processing through customs.

Global entry allows no processing lines, reduced wait times, and TSA Pre-Check Eligibility.

>Clear<

>CDC<

Be Alert And Aware Of Local Regulations And Requirements

Links

Why Should I Use A Travel Agent?

I can’t think of why you shouldn’t! If you love to travel but find planning for your trip overwhelming or you simply don’t have the time, we can help. If you normally plan your own trips but need help coordinating a large group for your next adventure or for a special destination event, we make things simple. If you plan all of your own trips, get high on the thrill of an amazing, well-organized itinerary, and love seeing a plan come together…give us a call, we’d love to have you work with us.

Do you recommend travel insurance for my trip?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended.  You have invested your hard-earned money and it’s a wise idea to protect your investment. Polls show that most people are concerned about getting sick before the trip and not being able to travel.  There are many other unplanned things that can arise from trip delay to lost baggage or injury far from home. Travel insurance can be a huge help. I wouldn’t travel internationally without it.  Standard medical insurance typically doesn’t cover much, if anything, outside of your home country. Hospitals and other government entities are not run the same way as they are in the United States.  Better to be prepared but the decision is ultimately yours.

Do you price-match?

It depends on the vendor or supplier.  Some tour operators will price match but it has to be apples to apples.  With cruises, we often have the ability to watch for fares to lower and can apply any lower rates to the reservation prior to final payment.

Will I get an itinerary before I travel?

Yes, we will provide a detailed itinerary prior to your departure. We will deliver most documents in an electronic format. Sometimes it is still necessary to send paper copies of things such as train tickets and tour vouchers. We will let you know what to expect before you travel.

Are you available to help during my travels?

We are here to help with any difficulties that arise during your trip. As a small business, we can’t be available 24/7 but there are additional sources to help you when we aren’t available. Purchasing 3rd party travel insurance can be very helpful in this case. Many of the insurance companies we work with offer 24/7 concierge services in addition to standard insurance claims assistance.  Many issues can be worked out directly with the hotel or entity you are having a challenge with but please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have unresolved issues.  We are here as your advocate.

Do you book airfare?

Airfare will be booked only with a vacation package for our clients. This means the airfare is bundled with a hotel or car rental for the length of the trip. For established clients who have traveled with a booking through us,  we will book some international airfare as a courtesy and show of appreciation to them.  We do not book domestic air on its own unless it is a group booking where everyone is traveling on the same flight.

Will you add my loyalty information to my booking?

Certainly! We encourage you to sign up for those loyalty rewards accounts and are happy to add your membership numbers to your reservations. We encourage you to verify the receipt of your points once you have traveled.

*Disclaimer: Certain booking services, such as Expedia, do not allow for loyalty information to be added during the booking process and some suppliers will not allow it to be added after when booking through these services.

How do you store my personal and credit card information?

In order to provide travel planning and booking services, it is necessary that we collect personal and sometimes private information. We utilize a PCI-compliant software program to collect and store all the information from our clients.